Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Archives for April 2013

Is a Root Canal the Same as a Root Filling?

April 19, 2013 by lrickwood

I was at the dentist today and I noticed my left front tooth is extremely sensitive to the touch. The dentist gave me an X-ray but didn’t see anything when the X-ray was reviewed. I was given Amoxicillan and I took this an hour ago and was told to take it three times a day, most likely every eight hours. This is supposed to take away my pain but the tooth still hurts a lot.

The dental office recommended I come back in six weeks as my tooth may need a root filling. Is this the same as a root canal? Should I continue to take Amoxillan every eight hours? What is the best protocol for my situation?

– Frank from Oklahoma

 

Dear Frank,

It sounds like the pain in your tooth is caused from a tooth infection. This may not be visible on an X-ray because it may take a couple of weeks before a dental abscess or infection is visible on an X-ray. Even though you have pain in a tooth, an infection may not be visible on a dental X-ray. Sometimes it takes a couple weeks before an infection/dental abscess is visible on an x-ray.

Amoxicillan, the antibiotic your dentist prescribed, is not just used to reduce pain but also to minimize the chance of a tooth infection. If you are in pain, we advise you to take 800 mg of Ibuprofen every four to six hours and not to exceed more than 2400 mg per day. Take your Amoxicillin three times a day, every eight hours. For example, you might take it at 7:00am, 3:00pm, and 11:00pm to make it convenient for you. It’s also important to note that antibiotics often upset the stomach so you may wish to have a small snack with your medication.

Sometimes the tooth infection is only temporarily cleared up when taking medication. This means that when you see your dentist for a follow-up appointment in about six weeks, your dentist might not be able to determine if your tooth is infected. If it’s hard to have a diagnosis, it’s recommended to postpone any treatment.

The common cold or sinus infection may cause your teeth to hurt as well.

If you’re still suffering from tooth pain after a couple of months, you should make another dental appointment.  If an infection is present, your dentist will probably prescribe another antibiotic and recommend a root canal.

To answer your question, a root canal is the same as a root filling. If this is the treatment recommended following your root canal, you will need to have a porcelain crown placed over the root-canalled tooth to prevent it from breaking and decaying.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Noah, Region Dental.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: root canal, root canal procedure, root canal treatment, root canals, root canals and root fillings

Should You Fill a Cavity in a Baby Tooth?

April 19, 2013 by lrickwood

My son is nine years-old and has a baby tooth with a cavity in it. The dentist wants to fill the cavity but my son is going to lose the tooth soon. I don’t think it’s necessary to fill it other than the dentist wanting to make some money. What is your opinion?

–  Amanda from Oklahoma

 

Dear Amanda,

There are many considerations with your inquiry. If your son’s tooth is one of the eight teeth in the front, it probably does not need to be filled. You’re right when you consider your son will lose the tooth soon and the adult tooth will come in.

If your son’s tooth is in the back of his mouth, there are many reasons to fill it. If it’s a baby tooth, he’ll keep it for at least three more years. Most baby teeth remain in the mouth until the child is at least twelve years-old. Sometimes, adults have baby teeth because no permanent teeth formed underneath.

If you’re unsure about the direction to take, an X-ray will give you more information. It’s still recommended to have your son’s baby tooth filled to save this tooth and hold space for adult teeth to grow in correctly.

If the tooth isn’t filled, it continues to decay – eventually creating a toothache and then it has to be pulled. This is very traumatic for a child and should be avoided if at all possible. If the tooth is pulled, your son would need a space maintainer placed where the tooth was pulled to maintain the space for a new, adult tooth to erupt. If a tooth comes out too soon and nothing is put in this place, surrounding teeth move into the open space and block the eruption of the adult tooth below.

One more thing to consider is that if this is your son’s last baby tooth, it’s most likely his six-year molar and since this is a permanent tooth, it would need a filling.

This blog is sponsored by Region Dental.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: baby tooth with cavity, cavity in baby tooth, filling a baby tooth, permanent teeth

Recent Posts

  • Complications with Smile Direct Club
  • Are There Options for Infected Teeth?
  • Is Smile Care Club a Good Option?
  • Antibiotic and Tooth Infections
  • Dentist Damaged Daughter’s Tooth Removing Her Retainer

Categories

  • Affordable Dentist
  • Braces
  • Dental Implant
  • Dentist
  • Dentures
  • Emergency Dentist
  • Glenpool Dentist
  • Invisalign
  • Orthodontics
  • Porcelain Crowns
  • Root Canal
  • Snap-on Dentures
  • Snap-On Smile
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Tooth Pain
  • Uncategorized
  • White Fillings
  • Wisdom Teeth

Archives

  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011

©2010-2022 Region Dental • All Rights Reserved

Website Design and SEO by Infinity Dental WebIDW Logo

Region Dental
3210 E. 21st Street Tulsa, OK 74114
Phone: (918) 742-5521

Privacy Policy

  • Welcome to Dr. Noah’s Dentistry Blog
  •  
  • Click to Call
    (918) 742-5521